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The market for styrenic copolymers continues to grow strongly after being hit by the global economic crisis during 2008– 09, during which demand for essentially all styrenic copolymers declined.

The world SMA market grew at about 5% per year (from a small base) during 2012-16. The United States is the leading consumer, with over 40%, followed by Europe at over 30%. Overall growth is forecast to be about 3% per year during 2016-21.

The following pie chart shows world consumption of styrenic copolymers by type:

China continues to be the most important market for styrenic copolymers, accounting for nearly half of total world consumption. It is the leading world consumer of all but one (SMA) of the styrenic copolymer and terpolymer products covered in this report. Consumption of all products is forecast to increase at about 4% per year during 2016–21.

In Europe, consumption of styrenic copolymers has generally increased during the last four years. Growth will continue for all but ASA/AES and MBS, which are both forecast to decline during 2016–21.

In Japan and Other Asia, styrenic copolymer consumption is forecast to increase only marginally, with the majority of growth occurring in Other Asia.

World SBC elastomer demand in 2016 increased at about 4% per year from 2012 to 2016. China alone accounts for nearly half of world demand. The United States and Europe each account for about 20%. World demand is forecast to grow at an average annual rate of about 4% from 2016 to 2021.

World styrene-acrylic (ester) copolymer consumption increased at about 5% per year from 2012 to 2016. China accounts for nearly half of world demand, followed by Europe with nearly a third of total consumption. Growth is forecast to be about 3% per year during 2016–21.

The world ion exchange resins market is dominated by China, which accounts for over half of world demand, followed distantly by the United States and Europe with 15% each. Total world consumption is forecast to grow at about 4% per year during 2016–21.

World MBS demand grew at 4% per year during 2012–16. China accounts for about 40% of world demand, followed fairly closely by Other Asia (not including Japan) at 34%. Total world consumption is forecast to continue increasing at about 4% per year during 2016–21.

Approximately 71% of the high-styrene-content styrene-butadiene copolymer (HS-SBC) resins market is split fairly evenly between China, Europe, and Other Asia (not including Japan). Overall annual growth is forecast to be around 3% during 2016–21.

The ASA/AES market is also spread fairly evenly across the globe, with China accounting for nearly 30%, followed by Other Asia, the United States, and Europe with about 20% each. Overall growth is forecast to be about 2% per year during 2016– 21.